James Osmond with son

We give a special
thank you to Cecil Willis
for his faithfulness
in serving the Lord
and his work of
sharing the Gospel.

What Must One Do to be Saved, Daddy?

Hello, I'm James Osmond, founder of TrainUpChildren.com.

Really there is no other question more important than this one,
to each and every one of us.

I see many people struggle with understanding the truth about becoming a born again child of God. I want to share with you a study, by Cecil Willis, I have found very helpful to me.

When we go back to God's word and take the time to learn from it, we gain the wisdom it holds. And in this case, understanding what one must do to be saved is the very purpose why God sent His precious Son into this world.

As parents we must, without a doubt, have a clear understanding how we are to become born again, so that we can give Biblical answers to our children as they ask the question, "Daddy, what must I do to be saved?"

This study will be worth bookmarking, or simply make a print for future use...
Cecil Willis writes ~

What Must One Do to be Saved?

Every thoughtful person who believes in God and accepts the Bible as the Word of God should have an intense interest in this question. We are glad that you are seeking God's ways. For it is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this question, since your soul and destiny is at stake. ~ "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matthew 16:26. To answer the question wrongly is fatal.

The wisdom of man, unaided by divine revelation, could never answer the question. "For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God... 1Corinthians 1:21. However, God has spoken, and has amply and clearly revealed what one must do to be saved. ~ "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Hebrew 1:1-2. The answer to the question is to be found in the truth revealed by God.

• For I am (Paul) not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. Romans 1:16-17
  
• And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:15-17
  
• Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
  
• According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4

Human testimony as to how certain ones may think they were saved is not trustworthy (Jeremiah 10:23). Rather than depend on human testimony, we must depend upon what God has said man must do ~ "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God... that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ..." 1 Peter 4:11. For the Son of God only has the words of eternal life. ~ "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:68.

We are glad to say that since God has spoken, it is not even difficult to answer this all-important question. The way is so clear that "wayfaring men, yea fools" should not err there in (Isaiah 35:8). This is not profound subject, though it is profoundly important.

Something to "Do"

In speaking about salvation, men often talk about what one must "feel," "experience," or "get." But the Bible discusses what one must "do" in order to be saved. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21. and "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25. Jesus shall only save those who obey Him. "And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Hebrews 5:9.

Who Should Be Concerned?

Any person that has ever committed one sin should be interested in what one must do to be saved from the guilt and consequences of that sin. Infants and young children therefore are not bothered by this question. But of those accountable to God not one is excused from the responsibility of seeking a scriptural solution to his spiritual bondage.

Paul argues, through the first three chapters of Romans, that Jews and Gentiles are sinners. He concludes, ~ "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--" Roman 5:12. Now sin is a transgression of God's law ~ "Whosoever commits sin transgress also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Hence, my friend, if you ever have violated one single law of God, you need to know what one must do to be saved.

Until men become convinced they are lost, they will not be concerned about being saved. None can be saved until he desires salvation (Acts 2:41). So long as men feel secure in unbelief, morality and denominationalism, the question before us will not receive the attention befitting its importance. Unbelief will bring damnation: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6. (John 3:18). Morality alone cannot save (Acts 10:1-4). (Acts 11:14); and denominationalism will be rooted up, since God did not plant it ~ (Matthew 15:13). Only revealed truth can lift man from his route to certain perdition.

The Question Asked By Many...

If you now are asking "Well, what must one do to be saved?", you are not the first person to ask. One can read in the Bible about several persons who asked this same question. In Acts 16, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30). On the day of Pentecost, when the very first gospel sermon was being preached, multitudes asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Saul of Tarsus was a vicious persecutor of the church who later was known as the apostle Paul. When the Lord appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he asked, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" (Acts 9:6) (Acts 22:10). The question, "What must one do to be saved?", is therefore a Biblical question, to which a Biblical answer can be given.

Let us now look at those who asked the question which we now are considering, and see what they were told to do.

The Jailer - Acts 16

Paul and Silas were cast into prison because Paul cast an evil spirit out of a young maiden in the city of Philippi. Her masters had used her demonic possession as a means to make money. While in prison, about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. A great earthquake shook the prison, opening the doors and loosing the prisoner's bonds. The jailer awakened, supposed his prisoners all had fled and that he would be put to death because he had permitted their escape, and was about to kill himself. But Paul stopped his suicidal hand.

The jailer, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, asked "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" The unbelieving jailer was told by Paul, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house" Acts 16:31. (Jesus had said to the doubting Pharisees, "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." John 8:24.)

However, a lot of people want to stop reading with verse 31. This man believed in the Lord Jesus, but he did more. The biblical record continues: "And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes: and was baptised, he and all his, immediately" Acts 16:33. The washing of their stripes constituted "fruit worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:8). His mind had been changed, which is the meaning of the word "repentance" (Matthew 21:28).

And the Bible says that he immediately was baptized. We can tell what the Philippian jailer had to do to be saved by observing what he did: He believed, repented, and was baptized.

The Pentecostians - Acts 2

On the day of Pentecost, to a vast assemblage of Jews, Peter argued from the miracles of Christ, from prophecy, and from the testimony of both men and God that Jesus was both Lord and Christ. He even accused those in his audience of being responsible for his crucifixion ~ "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death." Acts 2:23. The "punch-line" of his sermon is recorded in verse 36: "Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified." Can you imagine a more shocking charge or a greater crime than to be guilty of crucifying God's only Son? No wonder they cried, "Brethren, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:38. Peter had convinced these Jews that the one whom they had crucified was the Christ. They were now believers in Him. These believers then were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins.

The inspired record adds that "they that gladly received his word were baptized" Acts 2:41. Peter did not have to argue further with these people. Once he persuaded them that Jesus was the Christ, he only had to tell them what Jesus would have to do, and they "gladly received his word."

There was not even any dispute about whether baptism was necessary unto salvation. They realized they must "repent AND be baptized" if they were to receive the remission of their sins. All believers who "gladly receive His word" today will, without any hesitation, repent and be baptized. What did the Pentecostians do? The divine requirement of them was identical with that made of the jailer: They believed, repented, and were baptized for the remission of their sins.

Saul of Tarsus - Acts 9, 22, 26

Paul's conversion is discussed in chapters 9, 22, and 26 of the book of Acts. Having already subjected the church in Jerusalem to abuse, Paul secured permission to go to Damascus that he might further persecute Christ's disciples. While on the road to Damascus, there appeared to him a light brighter than the noonday sun. Some would have concluded from this "experience" that Paul was saved. But Paul did not so mistake it. Instead, he asked, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"

The Lord Jesus replied, "rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do," Acts 9:6. Not that what he was to be told was something that he "must" do. Blind, Paul was led into the city and for three days neither ate nor drank. He must have been grieving over the terrible mistake he had made in persecuting Christ and His disciples. ~ "Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Acts 26:9. This change of mind, occasioned by his realization that Jesus truly is Lord, constituted repentance.

When Ananias, the God-sent preacher came, he found Paul praying. The preacher then told Paul what he "must" do: "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name." Acts 22:16. Paul immediately obeyed the heaven-sent message. Paul therefore, in order to be saved, believed, repented, and was baptized to have his sins washed away.

Harmony of the Answers

It is obvious that each of these persons asking "what must I do?" received a slightly different answer. But the difference is only in appearance. The unbelieving jailer is told to believe, but he also repented and was baptized. The believing Jews on Pentecost are not told to believe, since they already had done so. Instead, they are commanded to repent and be baptized. Paul, who then both believed and was penitent, was told only "arise and be baptized." The answer given to each inquirer was determined by his spiritual condition. But actually, all did the same things. They all believed, repented and were baptized.

Persons inquiring concerning the distance to a certain city from three different locations on the route to that city would expect different replies. These inquirers concerning salvation were at different stages on their route to salvation. Hence, different replies are given to their questions. But in the final analysis, each believed, repented and was baptized.

Conclusion

There are many cases of conversion recorded in the book of Acts. Not all of the details are recorded concerning all of these cases. But every detail recorded is in harmony with these three cases which we have observed. In order that you might more thoroughly study the cases of conversion recorded in the New Testament, we are including a summarizing chart for your assistance. Use it with your Bible.

You will note that there is no instance of an alien sinner being told that there is nothing he can do to be saved as some human theories assert. ~ "And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Acts 2:40. Nor is any alien sinner ever told to "pray through" in order to be saved. Nor is anyone told to "relate an experience of grace," "raise your hand," "touch the radio," "have the preacher to pray for you," or "pray the sinner's prayer" as we often hear instructed today.

There are certain definite divinely given requirements stated that the sinner must "do" in order to be saved. Every alien sinner saved in this dispensation must believe, repent and be baptized. If we found but one stipulated, we would know what is required of all, for God is no respecter of persons ~ "For there is no respect of persons with God." Roman 2:11. But these requirements are repeatedly stated in the Scriptures.

Not all of the plan of salvation can be found in one verse. The Bible says a number of things save us, and there is complete harmony in all of them ~ "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endures forever." Psalm 119:160. But remember that God never requires less of a sinner than any particular verse requires, though He may require more. We, therefore, have presented the total of what one must do in order to be saved in this article and in the chart below.

If you are a penitent believer, you now are exhorted, "...why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.

If you have any questions concerning "What must I Do to Be Save," please email us.

We would like you to be our new brother/sister in the Lord! May God grant you salvation today...

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